Rhododendron Janet Ward

Rhododendron 'Janet Ward' is a hybrid variety that will seduce with the unusual colour of its flowers, a pale pink widely bordered in white when fully open. The bush is vigorous and it bears large evergreen and glossy leaves, decorative all year round. In late spring, bouquets appear where pretty deep pink flower buds and beautiful delicately bicoloured flowers coexist, creating a charming range of pink on the plant scale. Hardy, this rhododendron can be grown both in the ground and in pots on the terrace. 'Rhodos', as spectacular as they are exclusive, only succeed in acidic, rich, fresh but well-drained soil and under our humid climates.

Rhododendrons are plants from the heath family, just like heathers, preferring in the majority of cases soils devoid of limestone, tending to be acidic, and humid climates. The Janet Ward cultivar was obtained in 1974 by Slocock Nurseries in England. It forms a regular bush, with a rounded habit, reaching about 2m (7ft) in height and 1.5m (5ft) in width at the age of 10, under good growing conditions in the ground. Its growth is rather slow. Its large leaves are elliptical in shape, dark green and glossy on the upper side, showing a lighter and hairy underside. They persist in winter. At the end of May or beginning of June, for about 3 weeks, large rounded bouquets or corymbs of flower buds open at the tips of the branches. They open into large funnel-shaped flowers, with slightly undulated petals on the edges, equipped with long dark pink stamens.

Rhododendron 'Janet Ward' is a floriferous and hardy plant, up to -15°C (5°F) or even -20°C (1°F). Even though they prefer partial shade, hybrid Rhododendrons can tolerate morning sun as long as it is not scorching and their base remains cool. "Janet Ward", with its inviting flowering, will easily light up a partially shaded area of the garden, in the company of ferns, hostas, Pieris, heathers, Japanese Azaleas or other rhododendrons from the same group to create superb patchworks of textures and colours in spring. Large rhododendrons can be used to create magnificent hedges, alone or with camellias or mimosa (in mild climates) for example. Growing in pots is possible, but it requires regular watering with non-limestone water and regular application of specific fertilizer for ericaceous plants.